Over 150 signings were completed in the first 15 days of 2026 NHL free agency, headlined by an eight-year $7.1 million extension for Tyson Foerster.
July 1 opening wave
Vegas Golden Knights added six players on July 1, committing multiple two-year deals at league-minimum or near-minimum rates including Marc Gatcomb and Antti Tuomisto.
John Carlson signed a two-year $8.5 million contract, the largest single cap hit recorded on opening day.
Rasmus Andersson inked a seven-year $8.5 million deal with Vegas on the same day, immediately elevating the Knights’ blue-line cap commitment.
Toronto Maple Leafs signed five restricted and unrestricted free agents, among them Cole McWard and Henrik Rybinski on two-year $875,000 pacts.
Edmonton Oilers landed Frederik Andersen on a one-year $1 million deal and Kasperi Kapanen on a one-year $2.6 million agreement, adding veteran depth at modest cost.
Mid-month extensions and RFAs
Trevor Zegras agreed to a four-year $9.125 million contract with Philadelphia on July 15, the highest annual cap hit posted in the tracker window.
Cole Perfetti secured a five-year $6 million extension with Winnipeg, locking in a top-six forward at an average of $1.2 million per season.
Leo Carlsson signed a five-year $18 million deal with Anaheim on July 9, the second-largest total commitment after Zegras.
Simon Nemec received a five-year $7.25 million contract from Calgary on July 6, anchoring the Flames’ young defense.
Pavel Mintyukov agreed to a five-year $7.2 million extension with Anaheim on July 5, pairing with Carlsson to raise the Ducks’ prospect cap load above $25 million.
Late additions and UFA depth
Alex Ovechkin signed a one-year $4.25 million deal with Washington on July 2, keeping the franchise’s all-time leading scorer under contract at a reduced rate.
Jamie Benn joined Dallas on a one-year $850,000 pact on July 3, adding veteran leadership at the league minimum.
Nico Hischier secured a five-year $11.7 million extension with New Jersey on July 2, the highest cap figure among July 2 signings.
Bowen Byram signed a six-year $12.5 million contract with Chicago on July 2, shifting a top-pair defenseman to the Central Division.
Ivan Demidov inked an eight-year $9.13 million deal with Montreal on July 2, committing long-term cap space to a 20-year-old prospect.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.